Abstract:

Exercise promotes several health benefits, such as cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory
improvements. It is believed that the practice of exercise in individuals with psychiatric disorders, e.g. schizophrenia, can
cause significant changes. Schizophrenic patients have problematic lifestyle habits compared with general population; this
may cause a high mortality rate, mainly caused by cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Thus, the aim of this study is to
investigate changes in physical and mental health, cognitive and brain functioning due to the practice of exercise in
patients with schizophrenia. Although still little is known about the benefits of exercise on mental health, cognitive and
brain functioning of schizophrenic patients, exercise training has been shown to be a beneficial intervention in the control
and reduction of disease severity. Type of training, form of execution, duration and intensity need to be better studied as
the effects on physical and mental health, cognition and brain activity depend exclusively of interconnected factors, such
as the combination of exercise and medication. However, one should understand that exercise is not only an effective nondrug
alternative, but also acts as a supporting linking up interventions to promote improvements in process performance
optimization. In general, the positive effects on mental health, cognition and brain activity as a result of an exercise
program are quite evident. Few studies have been published correlating effects of exercise in patients with schizophrenia,
but there is increasing evidence that positive and negative symptoms can be improved. Therefore, it is important that
further studies be undertaken to expand the knowledge of physical exercise on mental health in people with schizophrenia,
as well as its dose-response and the most effective type of exercise.

Abstract:Exercise promotes several health benefits, such as cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory
improvements. It is believed that the practice of exercise in individuals with psychiatric disorders, e.g. schizophrenia, can
cause significant changes. Schizophrenic patients have problematic lifestyle habits compared with general population; this
may cause a high mortality rate, mainly caused by cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Thus, the aim of this study is to
investigate changes in physical and mental health, cognitive and brain functioning due to the practice of exercise in
patients with schizophrenia. Although still little is known about the benefits of exercise on mental health, cognitive and
brain functioning of schizophrenic patients, exercise training has been shown to be a beneficial intervention in the control
and reduction of disease severity. Type of training, form of execution, duration and intensity need to be better studied as
the effects on physical and mental health, cognition and brain activity depend exclusively of interconnected factors, such
as the combination of exercise and medication. However, one should understand that exercise is not only an effective nondrug
alternative, but also acts as a supporting linking up interventions to promote improvements in process performance
optimization. In general, the positive effects on mental health, cognition and brain activity as a result of an exercise
program are quite evident. Few studies have been published correlating effects of exercise in patients with schizophrenia,
but there is increasing evidence that positive and negative symptoms can be improved. Therefore, it is important that
further studies be undertaken to expand the knowledge of physical exercise on mental health in people with schizophrenia,
as well as its dose-response and the most effective type of exercise.